'Make cartoons, games more meaningful for kids': Gujarat minister Education Minister

Cartoons and games children watch and play for hours on mobile phones, laptops and or ggets must be me "meaningful" so that y could impart lessons in "culture, discipline and religion," Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said on Sunday.

He was responding to a query on online teaching for children of primary schools in view of coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Chudasama, along with Minister of State for Primary and Higher Education Vibhavari Dave, and education department officials h on Saturday held a "digital conversation" with pediatricians, psychologists and educators to get views on online education for primary schoolchildren.

"Participating in discussion, I said it is a matter of concern at home that a child watches cartoons and plays games for hours on a phone, tablet or laptop from morning till evening, which does t impart lessons in culture, discipline or religion.

"As an alternative to that, I said let us make cartoons that are more meaningful than existing cartoons.

Games should also be meaningful, and y should be me in such a way that children like m more than what y see w," said Chudasama, state Minister of Education (Higher and Technical), in a Facebook post.

He ded that Gujarat government has blended physical and digital education for last three months and has achieved "unexpected success" in a very short time.

"It seems this method will be set early in older children, but issue of wher to do it online for students of Class 1 to 5, and when to do it, is under discussion," he said.

Gujarat High Court h, in a recent order, asked state government to work out modalities with schools regarding online teaching, and to consider wher it was visable for very small children.

"We are saying so because a child studying in nursery or in first or second standard may remain exposed for a long time to screen of television or laptop or computer. This may affect t only eyes of small child, but also his overall health. Experts are also of view that children below five years of should t be imparted online education," High Court h said.

HC also suggested that government regulate timing of such education as a middle class family with three children cant afford more than one laptop, computer or television, which may deprive or children of benefits of online teaching. PTI KA PD BNM BNM